India bats for increased cooperation between UN and Arab League

ted Nations/New Delhi, March 23 : India on Wednesday batted for increased cooperation between the UN and the League of Arab States, saying the two organisations should make concerted efforts towards resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, addressing the UNSC briefing on “Cooperation between the UN & Regional & Subregional Organisations (League of Arab States)”, also expressed India’s steadfast support for cooperation between the ted Nations and the League of Arab States for the benefit of the region. He said the League of Arab States can contribute in the joint endeavour for peace, for the sake of the people of the region in general, and women and minorities, in particular. He submitted four proposals; specific suggestions for consideration by the UN Security Council: First, there must be greater policy synergy between the two organizations. Regular and frequent consultations with the League of Arab States and its members on peace initiatives in the region would contribute towards achieving common solutions and meaningful outcomes; Second, efforts must be made to achieve comprehensive coordination at the field level, especially through regular coordination between the UN Special Envoys and Special Representatives and the League of Arab States; Third, engagement with the League and its members in post-conflict peace building through reconstruction and economic development is equally important; and Fourth, ensuring the stability of the countries concerned and the region, and the welfare of the people, especially women and minorities, should be at the forefront of all such efforts. He said the cooperation between the UN and the League of Arab States is of critical importance when it comes to the Middle East Peace Process. Shringla said: “Both organisations must take concerted efforts to support the reactivation of the Middle East Peace Process in line with the two-State solution, based on the internationally agreed framework and previous agreements between the parties. “India welcomes the agreements for normalisation of relations between countries in the region, which we believe will contribute to greater peace and stability in the region,” in reference to the Abraham accords. He said India will continue to partner with the Arab countries in their efforts to achieve regional peace, stability and prosperity and will continue to work with the League of Arab States in combating terrorism and in promoting tolerance and pluralism. Earlier, in his address, he congratulated the delegation of the UAE for their stewardship of the UN Security Council for the month, as well as, for successfully piloting the Presidential Statement in the Council on the UN- League of Arab States cooperation “Given its strategic location, developments in the Arab world have influenced our shared history and they continue to have a profound impact globally. The challenges confronted by the region today and how we address them will have a critical bearing on international peace and security,” Shringla said. “India and the Arab world share a civilizational relationship, underpinned by our strong people-to-people relations and commercial and cultural ties. Trade between India and the Arab region through the Indian Ocean had flourished for several centuries even before the advent of modern commerce. The Indian rupee was legal tender in parts of the Arab world not very long ago.” He said countries from the Arab world are host to more than nine million Indians and India’s wide-ranging partnership with these countries encompasses every aspect of human endeavour – from agriculture, trade, commerce and education to clean energy, counter-terrorism and new technologies. India and the League of Arab States signed an MOU two decades ago for institutionalizing a regular dialogue process to forge a partnership for the future. It led to creation of the India – League of Arab States Forum. “The League of Arab States has contributed positively to security and stability in the region. Its Member States are significant troop and police contributors to UN peacekeeping forces. The Arab States are among the largest donors of humanitarian assistance to countries facing armed conflict in the region. The League has played an important role in the areas of mediation, conflict prevention and resolution in the region,” he said. RN